Bedrich Smetana: Klavierwerke Vol.4 auf CD

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The dramaturgy of the fourth CD comprising Bedrich Smetana's piano works also reflects the pedagogic activity that fully occupied him in the late 1840s and early 1850s. It gave rise to a host of charming compositions and cycles, rather small in proportion yet rich as regards the scale of moods, impressions, compositional techniques and expressive possibilities the composer gave rein to on these modest areas. A significant group of compositions is formed by the generally popular Album Leaves, which at the time Smetana succeeded in publishing under different titles (Stammbuchblätter, Charakterstücke or Skizzen, dedicated to Clara Schumann). The other group is formed by Polkas which, after the fashion of Chopin's mazurkas, begin stylising and transforming into independent concertante formations of idealised dance (Trois polkas de salon, Trois polkas poetiques). In the form of an easy-on-the-ear collage, the energetic young pianist and member of the renowned Smetana Trio Jitka Cechova offers another chapter of Smetana's piano works in a gamut of colours and moods.

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FonoForum 09/09: "Diesen kleinen Kosmos an Stimmungen erfüllt und erfühlt sie so geschmackssicher, als handle es sich hier um genuine Meisterwerke.​ Aus der Fis-Dur-Polka aus op.​ 7 versteht die Pianistin ein üppiges Farbenspiel zu zaubern, und in dem "Schwermut" betitelten Stück der "Skizzen" op.​ 5 gelingt es ihr, die Melodielinie fragil und von Trauerschatten umflort zu spannen.​ Cechovás feingeistiges Spiel adelt Smetanas Werke und verdeutlicht gleichzeitig, wie verantwortungsvoll ein Interpret selbst einer vermeintlich anspruchsloseren Komposition gegenüber agieren muss.​"